Combination locking bank



Jan. 17, 1967 T. E. BROWN I 3,298,601

COMBINATION LOCKING. BANK Filed Aug. 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

THOMAS E. BROWN ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1967 T. E. BROWN OOMBINATION LOCKING BANK Filed Aug. 17, 1965 W R O mR NB E. W E S A M O H T 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 3,298,5fil Patented Jan. 17, 1967 United States PatentOfiice 3,298,601 COMBINATIGN LOCKING BANK Thomas E. Brown, Slatersville, R.I., assignor to Rexall Drug and Chemical Company, Los Angeles, Calil:., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 480,406 2 Claims. (Cl. 232-4) This invention relates to locking receptacles and more particularly to a childs locking coin bank which may be manufactured wholly of plastic and which is particularly adapted to the injection molding forming process.

It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to provide a locking bank of the present type, the component parts of which may be injection molded of plastic material and which may be readily opened only when the locking means thereof are placed in a particular predetermined relationship known to the possessor thereof.

Other objects will hereinafter be obvious as will the nature of the invention be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the locking bank of the present invention shown illustratively embodied in a simulated camera shape;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of the present locking bank in relationship one to the other; and

FIGURE 3a is an assembled perspective view.

Throughout the specification, like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.

The component parts of the locking bank are best initially illustrated by FIGURE 3 of the drawings, wherein such locking bank is composed of component groups including receptacle 11 and closure means 12. The 010- sure means 12 is further comprised of a closure cap 13 and a plurality of locking rings 14.

Turning now to the receptacle 11 itself, such is illustratively shown in the form of a camera and in this manner enhances the enjoyment of the device by increasing the number of uses to which such may be put. Accordingly, the device is provided with attendant simulated structure of a camera including carrying means 15 so that the device may be conveniently suspended from the neck of a child user by cord 16 or the like. The receptacle 11 is further provided with a cylindrically shaped projection 17 which is open at the upper end 18 thereof through which access to the interior of the receptacle may be gained without breaking the locking bank of the present invention in a manner which will be more clearly hereinafter set out. The base of the cylindrical projection 17 is provided with a step formation 19 so as to form a shoulder 20 at the base thereof, which step is further provided with an upstanding guide 21. The outer surface of the cylindrical projection 17 is further provided with a plurality of upstanding detents 22 which are longitudinally aligned with each other and the guide 21.

The closure cap 13 is provided with an imperforate end wall 23 at the top thereof and with a cylindrical sidewall 24 downwardly extending from the periphery thereof. The sidewall 24 is further provided with longitudinal slots 25 circumferentially spaced therearound so as to divide the side wall 24 into a plurality of side wall segments 26 which are integrally attached to the end wall 23 at the periphery thereof. The closure cap 13 is further provided with upper and lower ring retaining means 27 and 28 respectively which prevent the upper and lower rings 14 illustratively shown from longitudinaly sliding off the upper and lower ends of the side wall 24 when such are rotatably slidably mounted thereon as will hereinafter appear. The lower ring retaining means 28 preferably takes the form of outwardlydirected annular wall portions integral with the lower ends of the individual segments 26 while the upper ring retaining means 27 is of a similar form and also comprises portions which extend outwardly in leg-like fashion at the upper terminals of the longitudinal slots 25. In this manner then, the bottom ends of the individual segments 26 may be inwardly flexed so that the side wall 24 receives the individual rings 14, it being understood that the lower ring retaining means 28 may be temporarily bypassed in so positioning the rings 14 upon the closure cap 13.

Furthermore, the preferable placement of the upper ring retaining means 27 in longitudinal alignment with the slots 24 makes possible the concealment of such slots and accordingly the operation of the device when such is in assembled position. Also, slight operation clearances are provided between the individual rings 14 and the respective retaining means 27 and 28, as best shown in FIG- URE 2 of the drawings so that the rings may freely slidably rotate upon the side wall 24. The bank device may be further provided with a coin receiving slot (not shown) in a convenient location such as through the end wall 23 or in the rear of the receptacle 11.

Each of the rings 14 is provided with an internal annular locking wall 29 having release means in the form of a cut-out portion 30 therein, which cut-outs are aligned with a particular indicia provided on the outer wall surface of each ring. The indicia formed on the outside of each of the rings 14 has been illustratively shown as comprising numerals 0 to 10, but it should be understood that any means of identifying indicia may be likewise utilized.

The operation of the device is as follows: The closure means 12 is first assembled by inwardly deflecting the lower portions of the side wall segments 26 to a position Where the ring 14 may be slipped over the lower retaining means 28 after which the segments are allowed to outwardly flex and in this manner the rings 14 are held against longitudinal removal from and in assembled position upon the side wall 24 of the closure cap 13. The wall 29 of each of the rings rests upon the side wall 24 and permits the independent rotation of each of the rings both in respect to each other and the side wall 24. Each of the cut-outs 30 are positioned opposite a predetermined indicia placed on the outside of the rings and in this manner the rings may be rotated so that such predetermined indicia is placed in alignment with one of the longitudinal slots 25 within the side wall 24 of the closure cap and in this position the closure means 12 is ready to be placed in telescoped relationship with the cylindrical projection 17 of the receptacle 11.

In so assembling the main component pieces of the locking bank 10 the closure means 12 thereof is circularly aligned with the projection 17 so that the slot 25 and the aligned cut-outs 30 are orientated in respect to the projecting detents 22 and accordingly placed in telescoped position therewith until the lower ring retaining means 28 abuts with the shoulder 20. It is in this above described position that the closure means 12 may be both placed upon and removed from the projection 17 of the receptacle and such has been accordingly illustrated in FIG- URE 2 of the drawings wherein the ring cut-outs 30 are respectively located beneath the indicia numerals 6 and 8 of the upper and lower rings respectively. From this position the locking bank 10 may be secured so that the closure means 12 thereof will not freely slide from the receptacle by rotating one or both of the rings 14 so that the inner annular wall 29 thereof lockingly abuts one or both of the detents 22. In this position it should be also noted that respective edges of the side wall segments 26 adjacent the detents 22 and which serve to define the boundaries of the longitudinal slot 25 further prevent the closure cap 13 from rotating freely upon the projection 17 as such sides contact the detents 22 and prevent such relative rotation. It may thus be apparent that the closure means 12 is accordingly held from longitudinal movement in regard to the receptacle when one or more of the rings 14 are in looking position (i.e. any position other than the predetermined open position) and that when both such rings are aligned in the particular predetermined relationship selected such as 6 and 8 above, the cut-outs 30 are positioned above each of the detents 22 and the closure means 12 may be freely removed from the receptacle 11. The guide 21 is provided to mark the position of the detents 22 when the locking bank is in completely assembled position. Of course, any particular suitable indicia of a group thereof may be selected to mark the position of a release cut-out means there beneath and such indicia may be placed therein after the rings have been formed.

It is thus believed, therefore, that the present invention provides a locking bank fufilling the objects of the present invention and that such is convenient and positive in its operation and that the component parts thereof are particularly adapted to be formed of plastic material by the injection molding process. However, attention is directed to the fact that other embodiments of the invention than that disclosed may be utilized such that one or more than two locking rings may be utilized and that shapes other than that simulating a camera lend themselves to the principles of the present invention and that other variations may be made in the combination locking bank structure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination locking device comprising a receptacle suitable for receipt of coins and the like and locking closure means therefor, said receptacle including a cylindrical projection having an opening therethrough, said closure means comprising a closure cap and a plurality of locking rings supported thereby and positively retained thereon, said closure cap having an end wall and a cylindrical sidewall dependent therefrom, said sidewall being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally directed slots dividing said sidewall into a plurality of sidewall segments integrally connected to said end wall at the top of said closure cap, said closure cap being in overlying telescoped relationship with said projection and freely laterally slidable therewith, said closure cap provided with separate ring retaining flanges outwardly projecting from the top and bottom of the sidewall thereof, said sidewall segments being inwardly deflectable at the bottoms thereof thus permitting said rings to clear said bottom retaining means when said rings are initially positioned on said closure cap, said rings being in contact with said cap sidewall and independently rotatable in relationship therewith, said rings further abutting said retaining means so as to hold such against longitudinal movement in relation to the sidewall of said closure, said projection having ring locking means thereon for contacting said rings so as to prevent lateral movement of said rings relative to said projection, said rings having release means in a predetermined position thereon whereby said rings and said closure means may be slidably removed from said receptacle when said rings are in said predetermined position, and means on said receptacle separate from said aforementioned means for positioning said closure cap in nonrotatabile relationship with said cylindrical projection.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein each of said rings is provided with an inwardly directed annular wall, said ring locking means comprises outwardly directed detents integral with said cylindrical projection for engagement with said wall in locked position and wherein said ring release means comprises a notch within said wall, said notch being dimensioned so as to permit said detents to pass therethrough, said cap positioning means comprising at least one peripheral boss at the base shoulder of said projection, which boss is positioned partially within one of said sidewall slots and abuts side portions of the bottom ring retaining flange of an opposed pair of sidewall segments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,160 12/1896 Graham 215-98 706,388 8/ 1902 Chein 46-2 803,249 10/1905 Smith 232-5 841,668 1/1907 Cowles 215-5 1,260,364 3/1918 Gibbs et al 232-4 2,315,086 3/1943 Coller 232-5 2,908,413 10/1959 ODonnell 215-9 FOREIGN PATENTS 204,246 9/ 1923 Great Britain. 677,311 8/1952 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION LOCKING DEVICE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE SUITABLE FOR RECEIPT OF COINS AND THE LIKE AND LOCKING CLOSURE MEANS THEREFOR, SAID RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING A CLOSURE CAP AND A PLURALITY OF LOCKING RINGS SUPPORTED THEREBY AND POSITIVELY RETAINED THEREON, SAID CLOSURE CAP HAVING AN END WALL AND A CYLINDRICAL SIDEWALL DEPENDENT THEREFROM, SAID SIDEWALL BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTED SLOTS DIVIDING SAID SIDEWALL INTO A PLURALITY OF SIDEWALL SEGMENTS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID END WALL AT THE TOP OF SAID CLOSURE CAP, SAID CLOSURE CAP BEING IN OVERLYING TELESCOPED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID PROJECTION AND FREELY LATERALLY SLIDABLE THEREWITH, SAID CLOSURE CAP PROVIDED WITH SEPARATE RING RETAINING FLANGES OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE SIDEWALL THEREOF, SAID SIDEWALL SEGMENTS BEING INWARDLY DEFLECTABLE AT THE 